Pushbutton operated combination locks



Nov. 26, 1968 A. c. SANOWSKIS 3,432,587

PUSHBUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCKS Filed Aug. 51, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 26, 1968 A. c. SANOWSKIS 3,412,587

PUSHBUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCKS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v C5 4. arraewsrs Nov. 26, 1968 A. c. SANOWSKIS 3,412,587

PUSHBUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCKS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A/VE/VTOI? 1953. A. c. SANOWSKIS PUSHBUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 31, 1966 'Z/Vl GA/TOZ Q/fiewi lfmazaav 3,412,587 PUSHBUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCKS Albert C. Sanowskis, 7321 S. Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60649 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 395,372, Sept. 10, 1964. This application Aug. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 576,456

12 Claims. (Cl. 70-313) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination lock device of the general type disclosed in US. Patent 3,270,537, wherein there is provided a plurality of buttons requiring the consecutive depression of a chosen sequence of said buttons to effect a change of said lock from an initial locked condition to an open condition, and which includes a lock controlling device coupled to the buttons and shiftable step by step in one direction to pass a latch controlling bolt therethrough to release the latch but only upon depression of the proper sequence of said chosen buttons and wherein depression of said buttons in other but the predetermined sequence serves to disable the lock controlling device; means for resetting the lock controlling device tothe initial locked condition which comprises resilient stop means fixedly disposed in the path of movement of the lock controlling device to terminate the movement thereof at a predetermined location, there being bolt withdrawal means described so that for resetting the lock controlling device to its initiate condition, the same is released to travel along a path of movement and be intercepted at a particular location by the resilient stop means thereby automatically to place the lock controlling device in the proper initiate condition for resumption of the operation of a lock device. The lock controlling device described is in the form of a pair of flat tined racks arranged side by side and frictionally engaged one with the other and disposed in a channel formed in the lock-housing, and the resilient stop means described is in the form of a band spring of arcuate bent configuration, one end of which is secured to the end wall of the housing and the opposite end arranged to intercept the pair of racks at a predetermined location to terminate the movement thereof. Other forms of the resilient stop means include a pivot lever, one end of which is arranged in the path of the racks at a predetermined location to terminate the movement thereof; a coil spring attached to a threaded screw engaged in the housing whereby the end of the coil spring intercepts the racks at the predetermined location to terminate the movement of the racks; a rubber or a resilient plastic button of predetermined length secured to the housing at one end thereof so that the other end of the button engages the racks at a predetermined location to terminate the movement thereof; there also is described a system whereby the resilient stop means is disposed at opposite ends of the housing to engage the racks at both their opposite ends respectively, whereby the racks are positioned properly when the lock is arranged with the racks horizontally disposed rather than vertically disposed.

This invention is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application Ser. No. 395,372, filed Sept. 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,270,537, issued Sept. 6, 1966.

This invention relates generally to pushbutton combination locks operable by a set of pushbuttons and in which is provided a bolt-controlling means shiftable stepby-step, in one direction, by operation of certain select pushbuttons in a predetermined sequence and which, when any of the pushbuttons are operated out of sequence, will effect movement of said bolt-controlling means to prevent further nited States Patnt 3,412,587 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 successful operation thereof without resetting same to its initiate condition.

The herein invention is concerned particularly with the provision of a combination lock structure disclosed in my copending application which has a greatly improved and simplified resetting means for the bolt controlling means, which improvement greatly increases the versatility .and practicability, and lowers the cost of manufacture of said lock structures While retaining all of the advantages thereof.

The copending application provided a device which included bolt-controlling means comprising at least a pair of shiftable fiat racks or blades frictionally held in place side by side in a channel or slot formed in the lock housing, each rack being provided with plural tines having inclined or cammed surfaces at their free ends. The said cammed surfaces are keyed in one direction so that when the pushbuttons are actuated, arms associated with said pushbuttons engage the cam surfaces of the tines to shift the racks. Each of the racks were provided with an opening to permit passage of a spring-biased bolt member thereof therethrough, said opening being spaced along the length of the rack from the tined portion thereof by an imperforate portion. The bolt member controls the movement of the latch bolt in and out of the latch enclosure. The openings provided in each of the racks were matched and arranged to be aligned so long as the racks were properly lined up with the keyed aligned cam surfaces. So long as the racks move conjointly by manipulation of the keys in the proper predetermined keyed sequence, the openings also are moved in aligned condition. The bolt end normally bears against the imperforate portion of a facing rack surface. After a predetermined number of steps, the openings are aligned with the bolt end and the bolt end is released therethrough, releasing the latch bolt to permit withdrawal thereof from the latch enclosure.

The keying of said cam surfaces is arranged whereby the cam surfaces of select tines of the rack face in one direction and are aligned with like directed cam surfaces of the other rack. Upon actuation of the pushbuttons in a predetermined order, arms associated therewith engage against said select cam surfaces in like order serving to move both racks conjointly. The remaining cam surfaces of both racks are arranged generally so that actuation of the levers thereagainst shift only one of the racks or the other. Also both may be moved conjointly but in a direction opposite to that one required for opening. The racks are either misaligned, with the openings thereof misaligned or moved away from the completion position. In the former occurrence, the racks, of course, fail to move conjointly. Once the racks are misaligned or misdirected, the cam surfaces also are misaligned or improperly positioned. Repeated actuation of the pushbuttons in any order thereafter cannot serve to move the racks to a condition which permits the passage of the bolt end therethrough. Once misaligned or misdirected, the racks cannot be realigned or returned by further manipulations of any of the pushbuttons and therefore, until the racks are returned to their initial position, a step-by-step movement of the racks to a condition capable of passing the bolt therethrough is not possible.

When the openings in the racks are shifted in aligned condition through the step-by-step shifting of the racks conjointly in the proper direction each step brings the aligned openings closer to the bolt end until, at the last step, the bolt end is permitted to pass through the aligned openings thereby releasing the latch bolt controlled by the bolt to permit opening of the closure. The number of steps necessary to bring the openings to a position for release of the bolt end therethrough determines the number of digits in the combination, and hence, the number of pushbuttons required to be actuated. The maximum number of permutations or combinations of numbers possible with the lock device of the copending application was basically limited by the total digits in the combination. The maximum number of digits were determined by the available step space and the requirement for the immovable location of the heretofore required lug means on the racks.

Thus it is seen that two specific operational tasks are required to permit setting of the latch bolt in the enclosure and resetting of the bolt controlling means to a so-called lock set condition, that is, a condition where the bolt end is biased to engage against the imperforate surface of a facing rack to bias the latch bolt in the latch enclosure and hence prevent access being gained to the interior of the closure protected by the lock device. The two heretofore mentioned specific operational tasks involved, the withdrawal of the bolt from the aligned openings upon successful operation and the resetting of the racks to their initial position, either subsequent to the successful operation of the pushbuttons or because or misalignment of the racks during the operation of the pushbuttons in an improper sequence or the movement of both racks conjointly in a direction opposite to that one required for opening. Resetting of the racks must involve withdrawal of the bolt.

The combination lock of my copending application was characterized particularly by the provision of a mechanism for resetting the bolt controlling means thereof, the preferred form being a Wire torsion sping of substantially V-shaped configuration, and actuator means were provided adapted to be driven against the spring to bring the arms thereof together in a scissors-like movement. The racks were arranged in a slot so as to be moved in a direction normal to the spring and carried lug means arranged disposable between the arms of the spring whereby closing of the arms returned the racks to a predetermined location normally called their initiate position. A second drive means was provided operable simultaneously with the operation against the spring member to withdraw the bolt end from the racks to release the same so that when the spring arms engaged the lug means the racks were able to be moved to their initiate position.

Although the combination lock of the character described in my copending application has numerous advantages over earlier locks of this type, there were limitations, the object of this invention being to eliminate the same. Among the limitations were the limitation of the number of possible combinations of digits without changing the position of the lug means on the racks involving intricate machining. Other disadvantages involved the necessity for exerting a substantial force against the reset actuator button since a substantial force must be exercised to converge the arms of the scissors spring.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a combination lock of the character described in my copending application having a greatly simplified reset means in lieu of the scissors lever means of the earlier lock device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified reset means for a lock device of the character described which is easier to operate and requires less effort than heretofore required due to the absence of the necessity for substantial force to be exerted upon the divergently biased scissors lever of said earlier device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lock device of the character described which can be made universal, that is, which does not require a different housing casting for right or left hand installation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved reset means for the combination lock of the character described in my copending application whereby the scissors spring of the earlier device is eliminated along with the wedge means disclosed in said application, the racks being returned by gravity to their initiate condition upon operation of the reset pushbutton.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination lock structure of the character described in which rack means preferably comprising a pair of racks are seated in a slot formed in the lock housing as described in my copending application but which differs from the earlier structure in being returnable to their initiate condition solely by gravity upon release of the bolt end from the openings in said racks, and is further characterized by the elimination of the lug means from the rack members.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified resetting structure for the lock device described in my copending application which not only eliminates the scissors lever means thereof but enables the number of available lock combinations to be substantially increased over the earlier structure, said increase being effected by the simple adjustment of an easily accessible element of said simplified resetting structure to change the initiate position of the rack by a predetermined lineal increment.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a simplified resetting means for the lock device as described in my copending application, which resetting means can be equally capable of operation in both vertical and horizontal orientation of the lock device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a resetting means for the lock device as described in my copending application which eliminates the necessity for providing scissors lever means, wedge means, and lug means as described in said application, and which substitutes therefor simple resilient stop means at least at one of the ends of the housing, fixing the initiate position of the rack means upon release of the bolt end from contact frictionally with the rack means.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become evident to the skilled artisan as a description of preferred embodiments thereof ensue hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the various figures.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a reduced perspective view of the combination lock structure embodying the invention as installed in vertical orientation upon a residential or commercial door with the latch bolt secured in the latch.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and in the direction indicated and with the latch bolt secured against release from the latch enclosure.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated, some portion being shown in elevation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 and in the direction indicated.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the lock structure similar to that of FIG. 2 but with the novel resetting and bolt withdrawal mechanism operative to reset the racks and withdraw the bolt from contact with the racks, to place the latch in its engaged condition in the latch enclosure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bolt withdrawal means of the invention, with the racks shown in their misaligned condition prior to resetting thereof.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the combination lock shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the racks, the bolt and, the resetting means according to the invention shown in the initiate position.

FIG. 9(a) is a diagrammatic view of the racks, bolt and reset means illustrating the adjustability of the reset means to provide additional permutations or combinations.

FIG. 9(1)) is similar to FIG. 9(a) but with the racks shown in the latch release condition, the so-called open condition of the lock.

FIG. 9(0) is again a similar view to that shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(1)) but with the racks in a scrambled condition, that is, misaligned, one of the racks shown bearing against the bias of the reset means.

FIG. is a diagrammatic view taken from the side showing the racks of FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(0) in their rest condition.

FIGS. 11(a), 11(1)) and 11(c) illustrate diagrammatically various modified embodiments of the reset means in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 12 is a reduced elevational view of an automobile showing the lock device of the invention installed upon the door thereof, said device incorporating a modified form of resetting means constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates, diagrammatically, the operation of the modified reset means incorporated in the lock device shown installed in FIG. 12 said lock device being positioned in horizontal orientation.

The combination lock device of my copending application was particularly characterized by the provision, in a lock housing, of a pair of relatively fiat rack members arranged side by side, frictionally engaged, in a slot or channel formed in the housing and running longitudinally thereof. The fiat racks were provided with a tined portion, the ends of the tines having inclined surfaces and the inclined surfaces being keyed one relative the others so that movement of a member in a selected order against selected ones of said inclined surfaces would cause the racks to move conjointly. These racks were provided each with an opening spaced from the tined portions at a selected location so that movement of the racks a select number of steps would place the openings in the racks in aligned condition with a spring biased bolt end which controls the movement of the latch bolt in the latch enclosure. Thus, there is an imperforate surface between the tined portion of the racks and the opening formed therein. The spring biased bolt end is in frictional engagement with the imperforate surface at all time except when engaged through the aligned openings.

In my copending application, the racks were moved to an initial starting position regardless of their relative condition by actuation of a push button called a reset button. This button carried spring biased lever means actuable upon the bolt to withdraw the same from the aligned openings if the bolt was in such condition when the reset button was actuated. Also carried on the reset button was a pair of arms, the inner edges defined as an upwardly opening slot of V or wedge-like configuration. This structure was referred to as wedge means. Disposed between the arms of the slot was a scissors lever. When the reset button was actuated, the arms of the scissors lever would be caused to be converged or brought together by a cam-like action thereupon of the inner edges of said actuator arms. The racks carried lug means on the edges thereof arranged disposed between the arms of the scissors lever. When the arms of the scissors lever were caused to converge to a parallel position, these lugs would be acted upon and the racks would be moved to their neutral or initiate position in the channel of the housing in which they are disposed.

Thus there was disclosed in the copending application, the combination of a scissors lever means operable upon lug means and operated by wedge means to return the racks from whatever position they may have assumed to the neutral or initiate position for renewed operation of the lock device. Also combined therewith and actuable by the same actuating means, is found means for withdrawing the bolt end from contact with the racks so as to permit return of the racks to the initiate position. Normally, the bolt end either is frictionally engaged with the facing surface of one of the racks or engaged through one or both of the aforementioned openings.

The improvement to such structure provided by the invention herein is intended to eliminate the said scissors lever means as well as eliminate the necessity for providing the wedge means on the actuator or lug means on the racks. In lieu of the scissors lever means, the in vention contemplates the provision of resilient stop means disposed at least at one end of the channel carrying the racks and extending therein a predetermined distance so that when the bolt end is either withdrawn from the aligned passageways or from frictional engagement with the racks, the racks will be returned automatically to engage the stop means at a location which will place the racks in the proper predetermined initiate condition for resumption of the operation of the lock device.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 11 illustrate the combination lock embodying the invention in the form intended for use as a door lock for residential and commercial purposes, said lock being arranged in vertical orientation and designated generally by reference character 20. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the invention in a form particularly suitable for use as an automobile lock, the lock being arranged in horizontal orientation.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the lock 20 is shown installed upon a door 10, which may be a commercial or a residential or the like type.

In FIG. 2, the lock 20 is illustrated as installed within a suitable opening 12 of door it), properly aligned with an enclosure 14 formed in the door framing member 16 whereby to accommodate the latch bolt 18 when the door is closed and locked. The lock 20 includes a housing 22 formed of a hollow outer body member 24 and a cover member 26 secured thereto by suitable fastening means such as screws and the like (not shown). The outer body 24 and the cover member 26 preferably are formed of metal by casting or like procedures, although suitable plastic may be used.

A series of pushbuttons 28 of substantially rectangular configuration are mounted, individually in rows for axial sliding movement in suitably configurated passageways 3%, formed in body 24 and opening to the outer face 32 thereof. Each pushbutton 28 is preferably of hollow, cup-like configuration having an inner open face 25. The bottom wall 27 of the pushbutton 28 is provided with an interior seat 34 adapted to accommodate seatingly one end 36 of a helical compression spring 38. The opposite end 40 of spring 38 is arranged to bear upon one end 42 of torsion spring 44 terminates in a tangential extension of arm 48 directed at approximately a right angle relative to the axis of spring 44. Spring 38 functions as a safety spring to prevent damage to the lock mechanism when arm 48 is forced against the racks 114 and 116 (to be described) and absorbs excess force imparted to the pushbuttons 28.

Passageways 30 are defined interior of the body 24 by a pair of longitudinal walls 50 and a plurality of spaced transverse walls 51 which together define chambers or compartments within the body 24. The pair of walls 50 are spaced one from the other to define a main channel or slot 52 therebetween. The pair of walls 50 are joined one to the other by integral portion 53 so that the slot 52 has a depth less than the length of the passageways 30. Each wall of the pair of walls 50 is provided also with a plurality of spaced slots 54 aligned with like slots 54 and suitably disposed along the length of said walls 50 so that a pair of slots 54 communicate to each of the passageways 30. The slots 54 are deeper than the channel 52 so as to provide grooves 55 in portion 53. The respective extensions or arms 48 of the torsion spring 44 are accommodated for relative vertical movement with respective pairs of aligned slots 54.

The body 24 is provided with an enlarged passageway 56 closely adjacent one end thereof. Passageway 56 extends clear through the body 24 and is of a rectangular cross section substantially greater than that of the individual passageways 30. A substantially larger pushbutton 58, also of conforming rectangular configuration, is adapted for axial sliding movement within said passageway 56. Each passageway and 56 is provided with cooperable stop means comprising an entrance flange 60 adapted to cooperate with similar flange 62 formed adjacent to the inner open face 25 of pushbuttons 28 and 58 respectively whereby to retain the pushbuttons within the body 24. When assembled, both pushbuttons 28 and 58 extend outwardly of the housing 22.

The end walls 64 of the body 24 are provided with notches 66 and 66 opening to the upper portions of the body 24 and aligned with the slot 52 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The larger pushbutton 58 will be referred hereinafter as a reset button 58. The smaller pushbuttons 28, each provided with suitable number indicia on the outwardly facing surface of bottom walls 67 thereof, will be referred to hereinafter as number buttons 28.

The cover member 26 is provided with outstanding guide rod member 70 integral therewith and spaced one from the other in rows, the number of guide rod members 70 equalling the number of pushbuttons 28. The guide rod members 70 are adapted to be received within respective ones of the torsion springs 44. Each of the guide rod members 70 mounts a second helical compression spring 72. Each compression spring 72 is adapted to be interposed between the cover 26 and the. arm or extension 48 of spring 44 whereby to bias against said spring 44 and 38 respectively and thereby to cause the number buttons to be returned to their normal outwardly extending positions relative to the housing 22 subsequent to actuation of said pushbuttons and to maintain the outwardly extending position of said buttons 28. The cover member 26 also is provided with a laterally extending slot 74 adapted to be aligned with slot 52. A pair of block formations 76 and 78 are provided on the cover 26 and are spaced inwardly from the edges of said cover 26. Said block formations 76 and 78 are adapted to be aligned for reception within the larger passageway 56 of body 24. The block formations 76 and 78 are arranged respectively on opposite edges of slot 74 flush therewith.

A cavity 80 is formed in block formation 78 opening toward the inner face 59 of reset button 58. Opposite walls 86 define said cavity 80 and are provided with a pair of aligned openings 84. A slot 88 is formed in block formation 76 aligned with openings 84. The slot 88 extends from slot 74 inward of the block formation 76 in a direction normal to slot 74. A third slot 90 is provided in block formation 76 arranged in a plane normal to slot 88. Slot 90 extends entirely through block formation 76. Slot 88 terminates at the juncture thereof with slot 90. Because of the reset means disclosed herein, blocks 76 and 78 may be identical, each having cavities 80 but slot 90 being unnecessary. Thus the same casting may be used for both right and left hand installation.

In the embodiment illustrated, a spring biased latch bolt operating mechanism is shown generally by reference character 94 and has latch bolt 18 arranged in operative relation therewith. The said mechanism 94 is secured to the cover member 26 by means of suitable slot and key connections 93. The mechanism 94 has a slidable bolt 96 engaged through the aligned openings 84 in block formation 78. The bolt extends to cavity 80, with the front portion thereof bridging the slot 52 and entering slot 88 to terrninate at the junction of slots 88 and 90. This of course occurs when the latch bolt is "withdrawn from the enclosure 14 subsequent to successful manipulation of the number buttons in correct sequence.

The reset button 58 has an elongate bifurcated member 100 secured to the inner face 59 thereof and extending normal thereto. The bifurcated member 100 is chosen to be of a length sufiicient to be engaged through slot 90 for connection to means, described in said application Ser. No. 395,372, now Patent No. 3,270,537, for operating the lock from the interior of the closure, which means form no part of the invention herein although such means may well be utilized with the lock device embodying the herein invention.

The bolt controlling means for lock device 20 consists of rack means comprising a pair of relatively fiat rack members 114 and 116 arranged side by side, frictionally engaged, and the so-engaged racks being arranged in channel S2 for conjoint longitudinal movement therein. Racks 114 and 116 also are capable of slidable movement one relative to the other while disposed in the channel 52. Each rack 114 and 116 is provided with a plurality of spaced tines 118. When the racks are properly arranged within the channel 52, the tines 118 terminate toward the arms 48 of spring 44. The tines are arranged along the respective racks 114 and 116 so that when the racks are aligned, a majority of the tines are misaligned. Each rack 114 and 116 has an imperforate portion 120 and an opening or notch 122 formed therein opening to the edge of the respective rack in a direction parallel to the tines 118. The racks are arranged side by side with the notches 122 thereof aligned and the cover 26 secured to the body 24. A cover plate 124 is secured to the cover 26 over slot 74 so as to retain the rack members within the body. The cover plate 26 overlies the notch 66' so as to provide additional means for retaining the racks within channel 52 prior to aliixment of secondary cover plate 124 upon the body 24.

When the racks 114 and 116 are arranged in channel 52 in normally assumed initial or so-called lock-set position, the tongue end portion 98 of bolt 96 is arranged withdrawn from slot 88 but bears frictionally engaged against the imperforate portion 120 of the adjacent one of said racks. Thus the latch bolt 18 is biased outward from its housing and is disposed within the enclosure 14. The latch bolt 18 is provided with interior spring means 99 within its housing and is provided with a beveled surface so that the latch may be withdrawn against its spring bias in closing of the door 10 with the lock 20 in its set condition. So long as the tongue end 98 of bolt 9-6 bears against imperforate portion 120 of the next adjacent or facing rack, the latch bolt cannot be forced from the enclosure 14 by manipulations originating exterior of the closure.

Each of the tines 118 of racks 114 and 116 is provided with an inclined or cam surface 126 at the free ends thereof, most of the cam surfaces facing in one direction. The tines also are spaced along their respective racks so that when the racks are aligned, with notches 122 aligned, the tines for the most part are misaligned except for certain through passageways not blocked by a tine. Certain ones of the tines 118 are also provided with cam surfaces 128 which face in the direction opposite from cam surfaces 126. When fiat racks 114 and 116 are arranged with their notches 122 aligned, only certain predetermined ones of the cam surfaces 126 and 128 are aligned.

The cam surfaces 126 and 128 are adapted to be engaged by the extensions 48 of springs 44 when the number buttons 28 are pushed inward of body 24. Only those certain aligned ones of cam surfaces 126 and 128 will move the racks 114 and 116 conjointly when engaged by the arms or extensions 48 keeping the notches 122 aligned. If the aligned cam surfaces are not in position to be engaged by the first to be actuated number button 28, then one of the non-aligned cam surfaces may be engaged by said respective arm 48 and the racks 114 and 116 will be moved step wise relative one the other instead of being moved conjointly in the direction toward alignment with the bolt end 98. When this occurs, the notches 122 of said racks may be misaligned such as illustrated in FIG. 6. In addition, all the said certain aligned ones of the cam surfaces simultaneously are misaligned. Thus further actuation of the number buttons 28 following any sequence of operations will serve only to move the racks either one relative to the other, or conjointly in either direction but always thereafter either misaligned or movable in the direction opposite to the one direction toward alignment with the bolt end 98. The notches 122 cannot be arranged thereafter in 9 aligned condition with slot 88 to permit tongue end 98 of bolt 96 to pass therethrough.

When the first to be operated number button 28 is actuated and if it be the predetermined one required to be operated first in the chosen predetermined sequence, the arm or extension 48 of spring 44 associated therewith bears against a certain one of said aligned cam surfaces. The extension 48 bears against said cam surface to move the racks conjointly one step in the direction of arrow 129 (FIG. 3). The arm or extension 48 passes through the clear through passageways between properly aligned racks 114 and 116 and, in passing, bear equally upon the tines. The movement of the racks conjointly brings the aligned openings 122 one step closer to alignment with slot 88. Such conjoint movement of racks 114 and 116 also bring a second pair of aligned cam surfaces in bearing proximity with the extension 48 of another spring 44 associated only with the next one to be operated of the number buttons accordingly to the predtermined sequence. If the next button 28 actually actuated is not that one of the number buttons, then the racks again are misaligned or moved in a direction opposed to the said one direction. Also, when the racks are moved stepwise relative one to another, many of the arms or extension 48 of respective keys 28 may be passed between the tines without affecting the movements of the racks. It must be emphasized that the movement of the racks 114 and 116 conjointly must place a proper aligned set of cam surfaces in a position along the channel 52 where the next one button of the predetermined sequence of button will be actuated further to move the racks conjointly, with the notches 122 remaining aligned. Actuation of any of the number buttons 28 other than that one next button to be actuated in the predetermined sequence will result in misalignment of the racks with simultaneous misalignment of the openings r notches 122 or movement of the racks conjointly in a direction opposite to said one direction.

Once the racks have been misaligned, no further operation of the number keys 28 will realign the openings 122. Thus, notwithstanding any further movement of the racks conjointly or otherwise, further operation of the pushbuttons to effect release of the latch bolt is impossible.

During the movement of the racks 114, 116, the tongue end 98 is frictionally engaged on the imperforate portion 120 of the facing rack 114, riding thereupon.

To reset the latch bolt in locked condition or to realign the racks after misoperation or operation of the bolt control mechanism, the racks must be returned to their initial or starting positions and properly aligned before the lock is once again operative to begin again the series of operation to effect release of the latch bolt 18. Also the bolt that is, tongue end 98 of bolt 96, must be withdrawn from the notches 122 to permit movement of the racks.

The improved means provided by the herein invention for resetting the racks to their initial operational position as well as withdrawing the bolt from the aligned notches 122 of the racks, will now be described.

The reset means provided by the herein invention is designated geenrallyby reference character 130 in FIG. 7 and comprises a band spring of arcuately bent configuration having a hook portion 132 at one end thereof adapted to be secured over end wall 64 of housing 24 at the notched portion 66 thereof, with the opposite end 134 of spring 130 extending into the cavity 80. The degree of curvature of the spring 130 is chosen so that its end 134 will be in position to engage the end faces 114' and 116 of rack members 114 and 116, said ends being located closely adjacent the notches 122 thereof. The width of the spring 130 is selected so that both racks can be engaged simultaneously by the end 134 of spring 130. The degree of curvature of the spring 130 is chosen so that the end 134 is in position to engage the rack ends 114' and 116' at a location selected so that a precise, known number of steps of movement of the racks conjointly places the tongue end portion 98 of bolt 96 in alignment with the openings 122.

Looking at FIG. 8, the bolt end 98 biased in the direction of the arrow 152, rests against the imperforate portion of the nearest rack 114. The rack would now move, in the direction indicated by arrow A under the impetus of the pushbutton controlled lever arms 48 of spring 44.

In FIG. 9(a), the racks are shown positioned in the neutral, initial or rest position ready for the commencement of operation of the first to be depressed buttons 28 at the beginning of the proper sequence. The reset means 130 shown in FIG. 8 is slightly modified in FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(0), in that spring 130 is arcuate in the opposite bend direction. Where spring 130 is concave relative the rack end faces 114 and 116, spring 130' is convex relative said rack end faces.

In FIG. 9(a), the spring 130' shown in full line representation, is bent at an arc to require four step-by-step movements to place the openings 122 in alignment with the tongue end 98 of bolt 96. The phantom line representation shows the same spring bent at different arcs so that the terminal end 134' thereof is disposed to require five steps in respect of the position in spring 130" and six steps in respect of the position of spring 130'. The arrow B indicates the direction of movement of the racks on reset.

In FIG. 9(b), the racks are shown subsequent to the successful operation of the pushbuttons 28 in the proper sequence so as to align the tongue end '98 with the notches 122 so that the said tongue end is passed through the racks. In FIG. 9(c), the racks are shown in a condition where they have been scrambled or misaligned by the operation of one or more pushbuttons 28 in other than the predetermined sequence. One of the racks 114, 116 has been moved to a location where the bolt end 98 bears against the imperforate surface of the rack so as frictionally to engage the same end with one of the end faces 114, 116' bearing against the bias of spring 138'. In both instances shown in FIGS. 9(b) and 9(c), when the reset button 58 is depressed into the housing, operation of spring 136 commences and the bolt and tongue 98 is withdrawn from the openings 122 to release the racks. Since the lock and the racks are in vertical orientation the force of gravity as represented by arrow B will cause the racks automatically to drop to engage the spring In the example, shown in FIG. 9(c) release of the bolt end 98 from frictional contact with the imperforate surface 120 of rack 114 as a result of manipulation of the button 58 will permit the spring 130' to return to its normal position shown in full lines in FIG. 9(a). Thus the racks will be carried back to their proper initiate position and will be aligned since the width of the spring 130 is suflicient to engage both end faces 114 and 116' of the racks 114 and 116. This relationship is also illus trated in FIG. 10 but from a different viewing orientation. It should be evident that in FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(0), only a single rack may be utilized and, instead of misalignment of the notch 122 with one of another rack, the movement of the rack on improper actuation of the pushbutton simply moves the notch in a direction opposite to the one direction toward open condition.

In FIGS. 11(a), 11(b) and 11(c) there is shown other structures which may be utilized in lieu of the springs 130 and 130' and which will function as the resilient stop means, also being adjustable in position to place the same at selected distances into the channel 52. In FIG. 11(a), there is shown a pivot lever having ends 162 and 164, end 162 being the inner end and arranged to contact the end faces 114' and 116 of the racks at the proper predetermined position. The opposite end 164 is biased away from the wall 64 by a spring 166. The pivot points provided are adjustable as shown by pin openings 168 and 170 for different degrees of projection interior of the housing.

In FIG. 11(1)) there is a coil spring 172 secured to the inner surface of wall 64 of the housing, preferably in notch 66 thereof, the spring may be directly secured or secured by means of a screw 174 passing through a prepared threaded hole 176 in the body 24 so that the nor mal expansion of the spring 172 will bring the racks 114, 116 to their proper initiate position. The position of the spring 172 can be adjusted by simply adjusting the screw 174- or, alternatively varying the length of the spring 172 itself.

In FIG. 11(0), a simple member 178 formed of rubber or compressible plastic, chosen of predetermined length, can be secured in place of the spring 130 and its length chosen so as to position the racks 114, 116 at the proper initiate position when the rack end faces 114, 116' engage same.

Of course, a shifting of the racks 114 and 116 to return same to their initiate condition is contingent entirely upon simultaneous withdrawal of the tongue end portion 98 of bolt 96 from slot 88 and notches 122 (if the lock device has been successfully operated or from frictional contact with the imperforate surface 120, if not). Otherwise movement of the racks would be blocked or prevented by said tongue end. The tongue end 98 is withdrawn from slot 88 and notches 122 by the action of a wire spring 136. Spring 136 is a double torsion spring having a mid-bend extending in a direction opposite from the free arms thereof. The bend 138 is in a wedge-like configuration having a wide portion 139. The spring 136 has coil portions 140 and a pair of free arms 142 having free ends 144. The spring 136 is so arranged whereby the Wide portion 139 of bend 133 is disposed at the apex of wedge shaped cavity 144 formed in the resetting key 58 opening to the inner face 59 thereof. The spring 136 is disposed vertically relative said reset button 58 and between the back formation 78 and said button 58. The arms 142 terminate at their free ends 144 in bearing relation with a notch 148 formed within cavity 80 of block formation 78. This is shown clearly in FIG. 2. When the reset button 58 is actuated toward the interior of body 24, the spring 136 buckles at its coil portion 140, moving same away from channel 52 as shown in FIG. 5. The bolt 96 is provided with a depending projection or lug 150 movable within cavity 80 of block formation 78. Movement of the coil portion 140 of spring 136 causes same to bear against the projection 150 to force the bolt against its normal spring bias and withdraw the tongue end 98 thereof from the notches 122 of the racks and contact therewith.

Because force is applied to spring 136 to release the tongue end 98 from contact with the racks, the racks drop by gravity to engage the resilient stop means of the invention and thus reset the rack position.

Upon release of reset button 58, the same returns to its normally outwardly biased position relative to body 24 because of the tension exercised upon spring 136. Simultaneons with the return of the button 58 to its normally outwardly biased position relative body 22, the tension on spring 136 is relaxed and tongue end 98 again bears frictionally against the imperforate portion 120 of the facing one (114) of the said racks. The latch bolt 18 remains in enclosure 14.

The combination lock of the invention also can be opened from the interior of the enclosure secured thereby and defined by the door 12 and the door frame 16. Likewise, setting of the lock or resetting of the lock controlling means also can be accomplished from the side of the lock opposite the pushbuttons. Means to accomplish this function has been described in the co-pending application Ser. No. 395,372, now Patent No. 3,270,537, and reference to said application is made for a detailed description of such means same forming no part of the herein invention.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, the lock device 20' in accordance with the invention and embodying a reset means provided by the herein invention has been shown in a form suitable for operation in horizontal orientation and is capable of utilization as an automobile door lock.

In FIG. 12 the door lock 20 is suitable for horizontal orientation and is shown installed on an automobile door 10. All the parts are substantially identical with the elements described in my copending application. The only basic exception would be the arrangement of the reset means. This is illustrated diagrammatically in parts (a), (b) and (c) of FIG. 13. The spring 130 is installed at the both ends of channel 52 of housing 22. Part (a) of FIG. 13 illustrates the rack in its neutral or initiate condition. One notes that the pair of springs 130 at opposite ends of the rack engaged said ends at the free ends 134 of the spring 130, at each end of the channel 52. The position of the bolt relative to opening 122 of the rack is such that the required predetermined number of steps of operation of button 28 to align both notches 122 and tongue end 98 are necessary. In part (b) of FIG. 13, the racks are shown in the lock-open" condition where the tongue end 98 of bolt 96 and the openings 122 have been aligned and the tongue end 98 passes through openings 122. The rack, of course, has been moved the predetermined number of steps and the spring 130 is compressed against the side wall of the housing 22 as shown at the left hand portion of part (b) of FIG. 13. When the bolt end 98 is released from the notches 122 by actuation of the reset button 58, the spring 130 will return the racks to their initiate position.

The racks are shown in their misaligned condition in part (c) of FIG. 13. The tongue end 98 bears against the imperforate surface of the rack, the spring at the right hand side of FIG. 13 has been compressed against its adjacent wall (64). When the frictional engagement between bolt end 98 and imperforate surface 120 of the rack is severed by actuation of the reset button 58, the return of the right hand spring to its normal position will move the racks to the initiate position shown in part (a) of FIG. 13.

It should be understood that although the rack means described here as present in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of rack members, there are occasions where only one rack need be utilized, still being within the scope of this invention.

From the above description it will be understood that variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What it is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pushbutton operated combination lock of the character described disposed in a housing and having a plurality of pushbuttons extending outward of this housing and requiring the consecutive depression of a chosen sequence of said pushbuttons to effect the change of said lock from an initial locked condition of a latch bolt to a released condition thereof, fiat rack means having end faces and op-eratively coupled to said pushbuttons and arranged for step-by-step shifting movement in a path of movement in one direction toward the said released condition upon depression of the proper sequence of said chosen buttons and wherein depression of said buttons in other but the predetermined sequence serves to incapacitate said rack means'against further movement toward said released condition, a spring biased latch bolt controlling member being normally frictionally engaged against said r-ack means so as to bias the latch bolt in lock condition, said rack means including notch means therein at a predetermined location thereon, the released condition being defined as that where the spring biased latch bolt controlling member is aligned with and released through said notch means subsequent to operation of the pushbuttons in the proper sequence to release the latch bolt from its locked condition, and means for resetting the rack means to return same to the disposition thereof at initiation of the sequential operation of said pushbuttons, said resetting means comprising, resilient stop means fixedly arranged disposed in the path of movement of the rack means to abut the end faces thereof to terminate the movement thereof upon release of the latch controlling bolt from engagement with the rack means, lever means for releasing said engagement of rack means and latch controlling bolt and actuating means operable upon said lever means from exterior of the housing.

2. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient stop means comprises an arcuate spring member secured at one end thereof upon the housing and having a free end extending into the path of movement of said rack means to intercept the end thereof adjacent the notched portion at a preselected loo'ation chosen so that the rack means is thus disposed at the location, relative to the latch controlling bolt, a predetermined number of shiftable steps from alignment with the notch means of said rack means.

3. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient stop means comprises a. spring biased lever pivotally arranged on the housing to place one end thereof at a predetermined location along the path of movement of the rack means, said lever having adjustable pivot means spaced along the length thereof to adjust the location of said one end for variation in the number of step-by-step movements of the rack means required for said notch means to be aligned with the latch controlling bolt.

4. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing and rack means are arranged vertically oriented,

whereby upon release of the engagement of the latch controlling bolt with the rack means, said rack means fall by gravity to engage the resilient stop means.

5. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 in which said resilient stop means is disposed at opposite ends of the rack means.

6. The lock device as claimed in claim 1 in which said rack means comprises at least a pair of rack members, each having the notch means therein adapted to be aligned when moved in said one direction by the proper sequential operation of said pushbuttons and misaligned during other operation of said pushbuttons.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said rack members are arranged in a channel formed in the housing for movement in a path normal to the latch controlling bolt, each rack member having a timed portion, an imperforate portion and said notch means being formed in said otherwise imperforate portion, said rack members arranged adjacent one the other in frictional engagement with the notch means thereof aligned, each of the tines having first cam surfaces formed at the free ends thereof, and certain ones of the tines having second, oppositely facing cam surfaces at the free ends thereof, said second cam surfaces adapted to be aligned with certain ones of said first cam surfaces when the racks are arranged with the passageways of each aligned, said racks adapted to be moved conjointly in one direction stepby-step by force exercised against aligned cam surfaces because of depression of said chosen buttons in the said predetermined sequence and said racks being misdirected by force exercised against the other cam surfaces by depression of said buttons in other than the predetermined sequence, and lever means coupling said buttons operative to said racks to transmit said force to said cam surfaces.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which said lever means comprise a plurality of like helical spring members associated one with each of said buttons, and interposed between said cam surfaces and said buttons, each of said spring members having an arm adapted to engage a respective one of said cam surfaces, and secondary spring means biasing the buttons in outwardly extending relation with the racks.

9. A combination lock of the character described wherein there is provided a bolt-controlling device shiftable step-by-step in one direction to assume a lock-open condition by operation of spring-biased pushbuttons in a predetermined sequence and which, when the pushbuttons are operated in other than said predetermined sequence, will affect a movement disabling the bolt-controlling device to prevent further operation thereof toward the lock-opening condition, and which includes a biased, latch-controlling bolt member operable for passage through said bolt-controlling device upon completion of said predetermined operative sequence to said lock-open condition, but otherwise remaining in frictional bearing relation with said bolt controlling device, to assume a lock-set condition, and in combination therewith, said bolt-controlling device comprising at least a pair of like rack members having end faces, each rack member being provided with plural tines having cam surfaces at their free ends, said cam surfaces having first ones keyed in one direction and second ones keyed in an opposite direction, levers associated with said pushbuttons and adapted to be brought to beating relationship with said cam surfaces to move the racks shiftably, certain ones of said first and second cam surfaces being aligned at selected locations for shifting said racks conjointly toward the lock-open condition, other cam surfaces arranged whereby actuation of said levers thereagainst move shiftably the racks to misdirect same, said racks each having passageways aligned one with the other when the racks are shifted conjointly and misaligned when the racks are moved one relative the other, said bolt member adapted to pass through said aligned passageways upon completion of said predetermined operational sequence and reaching of the lock open condition, and means for returning said racks in aligned condition to the lock-set position thereof subsequent to the operation of any one of the keys, said means comprising resilient stop means fixedly disposed in the path of movement of said rack members to engage the end faces thereof to terminate the movement thereof at a location chosen so that the racks are at the lock set position a predetermined number of step motions of the racks from the lock-open condition and means for withdrawing the bolt from said passageways and from bearing engagement with the lock controlling device and exteriorly disposed button means for actuating said last mentioned means.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein said bolt is spring biased and adapted to release a latch.

11. The structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the said last mentioned means comprises a hinged lever member seated in said button means, means restricting the movement of the free arms of said lever member, the bolt having a depending post member disposed adjacent said hinged lever member, said hinged lever member adapted to be buckled at its hinged connection by actuation of the key resultingly to bear against said post to move said bolt in a direction outward from the racks thereby to release same for resetting movement thereof to the lock-set condition.

12. The structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein said hinged lever member comprises a double torsion wire spring, the coil thereof comprising the said hinged connection.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,270,537 9/1966 SanoWskis 70313 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,412,587 November 26, 1968 Albert C. Sanowskis It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 20, "or misalignment should read of misalignment line 29, "sping should read spring Column 6, line 46, "of" should read or Column 9, line 18, predtermined" should read predetermined line 26, "movements" should read movement line 60, "geenrally should read generally Column 11, line 36, "back" should read block Column 12, line 67, "lock" should read locked Signed and sealed this 10th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

